Separator.



G. A. FOWLER.

SEPARATOR. APPLlcAloN FILED luNE 1o. 1914.'

1,138,741 'Patented May11,19 15.

4 SHEETS-SHEET l.

j @am l 15K 9 7 72 161116K G. A. FOWLER.,

sEPAAToR. APPLICATION FILED lUNE 10, 1914.

Patented May 11, 1915.

-4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. ALI FowLER.

SEPARATOR. y APPLlcATloN FILED 1UNE10. |914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3-` acter having novel and improved means whereby the finer particles of ore adheringf UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.. 'i

GEORGE ALLEN EoWLER, E MIAMI, ARIzoNAQAssIGNoIi To CROWN MILL EQUIPMENT COMPANY', 0F PHOENIX, ARIZONA, A CORP-QRATION -0F ARIZONA.

SEPARATOR.

Application filed I une 10, 1.914. Serial No. 844,335.

T0 all 'whom t may concern Be it known that IGEORGE ALLEN Fow- LER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Miami, in the county of Gila and State of Arizona, have invented certain new. and useful Improvements in Separators, of

.which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

of this general character including-a screening element and having novel and improved means whereby the possibility of clogging orrobstructing of the screening element is eliminated.

Furthermore, an object ofthe invention' is to provide a device of this general `charto the coarser particles are subjected to a washing action and maintained in suspension and caused to be conveyed to a concentrator or the like.

The invention also has f or its object to provide a device of this general character including novel and improved means whereby the coarser particles of ore are collected after passing from within the screening element and whereby such collected ore is discharged substantiallyindependently of the Huid deposited therewith. v

The invention consists in the dgagils of construction and in the-combiiti1 and arrangement of the several parts of my improved separator whereby certain important advantages are attained and the device is rendered simpler, less expensive and otherwise more convenient and advantageous for use, all as will be hereinafter more fully set forth. L'

The novel' features of the invention will be carefully'defined in the appended claims. In order that my invention may be the better understood, I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein-- Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through a Separator constructed in accordance with an embodiment of my invention;

v I Specification of Letters lllatent.- Patented lVIay 11, 1915.

Fig:l 2 isla'top plan view. of the device as illustrated 1n F ig. 1; Fig. 3 i's a sectional view taken substantially on the line 3.-3 of Fig. 1, with parts broken away; Figr4 is an enlarged. detail fragmentary sectional view taken through the screening element herein included; Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1 ;`Fig'.y

7 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the'line 7--7 of Fig.f1; Fig. 8 is. an enlarged detail sectional View taken through the upper portion of the screening element and illustratingin detail an operating means therefor; and Fig. 9 is a fragmentary detail sectional view, illustrating, 1n further detail,I certain of the elements disclosed in Fig. 8.

As disclosed in the accompanying drawings, 1 denotes a foundation preferably `of concrete construction and of any desired configuration, 'having suitably supported thereby the castings 2 adapted to serve as y supports for the upstanding posts 3. The

upper extremities of the posts are provided with the caps 4, to which is suitably secured the spider 5, the central or hub portion 6 whereof being provided with the opening 7 through which is directed the tubular membei` y8, `the lower extremitywhereof being provided with the radially disposed curved arms 9, for a'purpose to be hereinafter more particularly referred to.

The member 8 is adapted to be axially rotated and `for this purpose has its upper projected `portion l-provided, as herein diS- closed, with a worm gear 10 in mesh with a worm shaft 11 operatively coupled with a motor 12 supported by a plate 14 secured in any desired manner. to certain of the spokes` or arms 15 of the spider 5. The shaft 11,I

as herein disclosed, is operatively supported in the bearings 16 suitably secured to the plate 14 and the motor 12, as disclosed, is of an electrical type, althoughit will be readily perceived that should the necessities of prac tice so require the shaft 11 may be suitably coupled with any other form of power.

In order to facilitate the rotation of the member 8, I secure to the upper portion of the hub 6 the annular flat member 17 sur- 'rounding the opening 7 and concentric to'v i the member 8 and. provided in its upper sur.-

face with the concentric raceways 18 adapted to receive theanti-friction members, here- "'29ashrein disclosed, comprisutwo paral-xm in disclosed as spherical bodies, and such anti-friction members 19 are engaged by the annular member 20, herein disclosed as suitably ailixed to the under surface of the gear 10 whereby it will be readily perceived that the rotation of the member 8 may be maintained witha minimum of friction.

While I do not wish to limit myself as to an exact manner for securing the gear 10 to the member 8, I find it in practice desirable to provide the hub 21 of the gear 10 vwith the openings 22 disposed in parallel planes and at opposite sides of the axial center of said gear 10 and through which are inserted the tapered keys 23, .the adjacent peripheral portions of the member 10 being recessed to permit the passage of Asuch keys whereby it will be perceived that an effective connection between the gear 10 and member 8 is permitted. I also find it of advantage to have the upper extremity of the member 8- threaded, as indicated at 24, and engaged by the nut or bur 25, for -reasons which are believed to be self-evident. In order to maintain the keys 23 against displacement, I have operatively engaged with the reduced extremities thereof the nut or bur 26 also operating in a manner which is believed to be obvious.

To the lower extremities of the arms 9 is suitably atlixed the annular member 27. dis' posed transversely on a suitable taper, preferably at an angle Aof forty-five degrees,

while integrally produced with the upper marginal portion of such member 27 is the outwardly disposed segmental flange 28 serving as a' gutter or launder and into which the ore is adapted to be discharged from the crusher or grinder.

Depending from the annular member 27 and secured to the outer face thereof and disposed on the same angle are the' elongated members 29 suitably secured at their lower extremities to a second annular mem-y ber 30 disposed at the axial center of the member 27 and positioned in the same degree of mglpiation. Each of the members lelangle bars 31 positioned in close proximity one to the other but in slight separation and secured to the upper flanges thereof is the elongated plate 32 provided at its transverse center with the longitudinally disposed groove 33 extending from end to end and which is adapted to receive the depending lips 34 disposed on the inner longitudinal margins of the clamping bars 35 whereby it will be readilyperceived that the reticulated body or screen cloth 36 will be conveniently and effectively maintained body or screen cloth 36 may be of any predetermined mesh and 1n order to e'ectively The reticulated tions thereof to the respective members 27 and 30, I find it of advantage to employ the annular clamping members 37, suitably secured to the respective members 27 and having their upper surfaces disposed on such bevels or inclinations as to form no obstruction to the passage of the ore thereover.

The member 30 is provided with the depending mouth 38' provided on its periphery with the outwardly disposed annular ,flange 39 to which is suitably secured the substantially cone-shape member 40, the maximum diameter of which being in excess of the mean diameter of the annular member 27, and the fine particles of the ore discharged within the screening element, as afforded by the members 27 and 30 and their concomitant parts, are adapted to fall thereon together with a portion of the Huid accom: panying such o re, for a purpose which will be shortly related.

It is essential that an effective means be provided for preventing the mesh of the body or cloth 36 from becoming clogged or obstructed, and, as herein disclosed, I'pro.- vide for this purpose the annular member 41 surrounding the upper portion of the reticulated body or mesh 36 and anchored to the blocks 42 herein disclosed as projecting between the members 31 and rigidly secured thereto in any desired manner. This annular member 41 is adapted to receive the' blows from the pneumatic hammers 43 adjustably supported upon the posts 3 and I vwhich may be'of any desired construction. I

body or cloth 36 as to effectively 'prevent the mesh thereof from becoming clogged or obstructed. As the exact manner of mounting the hammers 43 upon the posts 3 forms no part of my present invention, it is be lieved that a further detailed disclosure thereof is unnecessary.

Operatively supported by the foundation 1 through the medium of the castings 44 and 45 is the receiving member or tank 46, herein disclosed as substantially in the form of an inverted cone, with ,the opposite ends thereof open, the lower or smaller opening being in communication with the depending spout 47 of the'lower casting 45. The upper or enlarged open end of the container or tank 46 is provided with the outwardly di'sposed'annular trough or launder 48 disposed below the peripheral portion of the cone/member 40 and into which the matter falling upon said member 40 is adapted to discharge and be conveyed through the outlet 49 to a concentrator or the like. The coarser particles of the ore which cannot pass through the reticulated body or screen cloth 36 are discharged through themouth outlet 47, as herein disclosed, is under conmovable valve seat 51 insertible within thev trol of the valve coacting withthereoutlet 47 and maintained in operative position, as herein disclosed, through the medium of the. clamping screws 52 and the valve 50 is fixed to the rod 53 disposed longitudinally ofthe axis of the 'container or tank 46 and the screening element and is disposed through the bore of the member 8 and is provided with the elongated feather 54 adaptedto be accommodated within the key-way formed in the bore of the member 8 whereby it will be readily perceived that the rod 53 will be caused to rotatein unison with` the screening element but will also be capable of longitudinal movement independentlyof the member 8. Suitably affixed to the rod 53 at a- -predetermined point within the container yor tank 46 are the spiral blades or disks 56 which, when the same have become submerged within the mud, will resultin an upward movement of the rod 53 and thus lift the valve 50 from its seat and permit such mud to be discharged within the outlet 47 so that it can be suitably conveyed to the crusher or grinding apparatus for further treatment but as the level of the top of the mud or pulp recedes downwardly the valve 50 will be caused to operatively engage its seat. I also find it of advantage in practice. to provide the valve 50 with the spiral tail 57 of a length 'in excess of the extent of the upward movement of the rod 53 so that the discharge of the mudor pulp through the spout 47 is assured, as is believed to beclearly apparent.

I also find it of particular advantage to provide means whereby the upward move-` ment-of the rod 53 may be limited and, as herein set forth, I accomplish this purpose through the medium of a collar 58 suitably fixed to the rod 53 and adapted to abut the lower end of the -member '8. The container -or tank 46 above the collected mud or pulpemployed the4 resultant foam will also bey caused to overflow. It will also be selflevident that all buoyant bodies, such as sticks, wood pulp or the like, passing overy 'I the reticulated body or wire cloth 36 will also be caused to overflow into the trough or launder 48.

In a-rid localities where water is scarce, it

' will be readily perceived that I may employ a series of tanks or containers 46 `whereby substantially all of the water may be saved. In view of the fact that these various containers or tanks Vwill be substantially duplicates, with the exception that the screening element may be omitted, it is not thought necessary that a detailed disclosure of this use of my invention need be given.

While I have specifically stated that my invention as herein embodied is especially designed and adapted for use as an ore separator, I wish to state that the automatic control of th'e discharge from the container or tank 46'may be employed for a multiplicity of purposes, as for the control of the discharge from a bin of grain.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a separator constructed in accordance with my invention is of an' extremely simple and comparatively 'inexpensive nature and is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled, and it will also be obvious that my invention is susceptible of some change and modification without material departure from the principles and spirit thereof and for this reason I do not Wish to be understood as limiting myself to the precise arrangement and formation of the several parts herein shown in carrying out my invention in practice.

= I claim: l

1. A device of the character described comprising a collecting tank provided with an outlet, a revolving valve for controlling the flow through the outlet, and means un-v der -control of the matter collected within the tank for opening the valve.

2. A device of the character described comprisinga collecting tank provided with an outlet, a revolving valve for controlling the' flow through the outlet, means under control of the matter collected within the tank for opening the valve, and al spiral tail carried by the valve disposed within the outlet.

3 A` device of the character described comprising a collecting tank provided with an outlet, a revolving valve for controlling the flow through the outlet, means under control of the matter collected within the tank for opening the valve, and means for limiting the movement of the vvalve away from the outlet.

4. A device of the character described comprising a rotatable screening element, 'a

collecting tank disposed below the screening by material accumulating in the tank during element and provided with an outlet openthe rotation of said valve. 10 ing, a rotatable valve for controlling the dis- In testimony whereof I hereunto aiix my charge through the outlet opening, an opsignature in the ,presence of two witnesses. erative connection between the valve and the GEORGE ALLEN FOWLER. screening element whereby the same will be Witnesses:

caused to rotate in unison, and a lifting me- W. J. ELLERY,

dium coacting with the valve and operable BARNEY HOLBERT. 

